Harvesting Solar Energy for Green Buildings Through Plastic Optical-Fibre Daylighting Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Saved in:
| Title: | Harvesting Solar Energy for Green Buildings Through Plastic Optical-Fibre Daylighting Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Tariq, Raheel1 (AUTHOR), Philbin, Simon P.1 (AUTHOR) s.philbin@kingston.ac.uk, Djaid, Nadia Touileb1 (AUTHOR), Munisami, Kevin J.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Energies (19961073). Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 8, p1857. 55p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Plastic optical fibers, *Daylighting, *Sustainable buildings, *Solar energy, *Evidence synthesis |
| Abstract: | Optical-fibre daylighting systems (OFDS) harvest solar energy as a renewable lighting resource by delivering sunlight deep into green buildings. This emerging technology for sustainable infrastructure reduces electric-lighting demand; however, reported performance is difficult to compare across heterogeneous designs, metrics, and validation practices. Therefore, a PRISMA 2020–reported systematic literature review (SLR) of OFDS studies from three databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science; 2000–2025) was conducted, synthesising primary research that quantifies system- or component-level performance, with a focus on (i) plastic optical fibre (POF) transmission characteristics; and (ii) POF-based illuminance model validation. After de-duplication and screening, 106 primary studies were included, and two meta-analyses were performed where data were harmonised from 29 studies in total. Across reported POF configurations, attenuation ranged from 150 to 800 dB/km with a pooled mean of 332.8 dB/km, corresponding to a mean 1 m transmission of 92.7% and median design length scales of ∼3.7 m for 80% transmission and ∼11.6 m to half-power. Across illuminance validation datasets, models showed high linear agreement with experimental measurements (coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) = 0.99; slope = 0.99) but typically underpredicted illuminance (geometric mean ratio = 1.16; mean absolute error (MAE) = 27.3 lux; mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) = 17.6%). These findings underscore the need for a standardised evaluation framework, including consistent metric definitions, robust uncertainty reporting, and reusable validation datasets to enable variance-weighted synthesis, while also identifying short-run POF routing as a key lever for improving system efficiency. In addition to providing the OFDS research agenda, this study serves as a roadmap for the industrial development of daylighting systems for green buildings based on harvesting solar energy, with its novelty lying in the PRISMA-guided evidence synthesis and quantitative meta-analytic consolidation of POF transmission and illuminance-validation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 193438197 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Harvesting Solar Energy for Green Buildings Through Plastic Optical-Fibre Daylighting Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tariq%2C+Raheel%22">Tariq, Raheel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Philbin%2C+Simon+P%2E%22">Philbin, Simon P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> s.philbin@kingston.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Djaid%2C+Nadia+Touileb%22">Djaid, Nadia Touileb</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Munisami%2C+Kevin+J%2E%22">Munisami, Kevin J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 8, p1857. 55p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+optical+fibers%22">Plastic optical fibers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Daylighting%22">Daylighting</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+buildings%22">Sustainable buildings</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+energy%22">Solar energy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evidence+synthesis%22">Evidence synthesis</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Optical-fibre daylighting systems (OFDS) harvest solar energy as a renewable lighting resource by delivering sunlight deep into green buildings. This emerging technology for sustainable infrastructure reduces electric-lighting demand; however, reported performance is difficult to compare across heterogeneous designs, metrics, and validation practices. Therefore, a PRISMA 2020–reported systematic literature review (SLR) of OFDS studies from three databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science; 2000–2025) was conducted, synthesising primary research that quantifies system- or component-level performance, with a focus on (i) plastic optical fibre (POF) transmission characteristics; and (ii) POF-based illuminance model validation. After de-duplication and screening, 106 primary studies were included, and two meta-analyses were performed where data were harmonised from 29 studies in total. Across reported POF configurations, attenuation ranged from 150 to 800 dB/km with a pooled mean of 332.8 dB/km, corresponding to a mean 1 m transmission of 92.7% and median design length scales of ∼3.7 m for 80% transmission and ∼11.6 m to half-power. Across illuminance validation datasets, models showed high linear agreement with experimental measurements (coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) = 0.99; slope = 0.99) but typically underpredicted illuminance (geometric mean ratio = 1.16; mean absolute error (MAE) = 27.3 lux; mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) = 17.6%). These findings underscore the need for a standardised evaluation framework, including consistent metric definitions, robust uncertainty reporting, and reusable validation datasets to enable variance-weighted synthesis, while also identifying short-run POF routing as a key lever for improving system efficiency. In addition to providing the OFDS research agenda, this study serves as a roadmap for the industrial development of daylighting systems for green buildings based on harvesting solar energy, with its novelty lying in the PRISMA-guided evidence synthesis and quantitative meta-analytic consolidation of POF transmission and illuminance-validation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193438197 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/en19081857 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 55 StartPage: 1857 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Plastic optical fibers Type: general – SubjectFull: Daylighting Type: general – SubjectFull: Sustainable buildings Type: general – SubjectFull: Solar energy Type: general – SubjectFull: Evidence synthesis Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Harvesting Solar Energy for Green Buildings Through Plastic Optical-Fibre Daylighting Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Tariq, Raheel – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Philbin, Simon P. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Djaid, Nadia Touileb – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Munisami, Kevin J. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961073 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 19 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Energies (19961073) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
